Circuit interrupter



0. LE. G. FORTESCUE AND J. B; MAcNElLL.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 11, 19H".

1 ,427,3 Patented Au 29, 1922.

WITNESSES. lNVENTORS Char/e: [J6 flvfacuv {GYM/mm John a. Mdc/Vefl/ ATTORNEY UNITED STATESLPAATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LE G. FORTESGUE AND JOHN B. MAONEILL, OF PITTSBURGH, PEINNSYL.

VANIA, A SSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE- ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNS YLVAIN'IA CIRCUIT nv'rnnnurrnn.

s a at nofL-tt r r t t.

11861 C 10 en Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Application filedOctober 17, 1918. Serial No. 258,555.

To allwhom iii may concern:

-Be it known that we, CHARLES LE G. FOIZ'ILECUQ, a subject 01 the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and JOHN B. MAQNEILL, :a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circuit lnterrupters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to circ'uitinteri'upters and particularly to high-speed interrupteis. i

One object of our invention is to provide an actuating electromagnet for an interrupter that shall have means; wherebyits armature may be quickly and positively actuated from one position to"another in anticipation of an overload on the circuit.

Another object of our invention is to provide a circuit-interi'upter-actuatin device, of the above-indicated character, tiat shall be simple and inexpensive to constrnct'and effective in its operation.

In practicing our invention, we provide an actuating electromagnet comprising a core member having'four arms so disposed as to constitute twoma netic paths severally having an air gap t erein; The ariiiature of the magnet is directly connected'to the movable member of the interrupteryancl the core member is energized from the'cirwit to cause the armatu're"to normally bridge the air gap in one of the magnetic paths. A winding'that is supplied with current directly from the circuit only when the current traversing the circuit changes quickly is disposed around the legs of the core member constituting the other magnetic path for so deflecting the flux through that path that the armature is quickly actuated from the one to the other position without thenecessity of opposing the normal magnetic circuit. With this arrangement, the interrupter may be quickly opened in anticipation of an overload'on the circuit.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of a circuit interrupter embodying our invention.

A direct-current circuit 1' is supplied with energy from a source 2 of 'electromotive force and is providedwith a circuit interrupter 3 having an actuating or controlling device 4.

The device-4 comprises a stationary ma netizable core memberrfi of si bs'tantia'll hollow rectangular shape having arms' 6;

t, and 9 so oppositely disposed with respectto each. other and separated by air gaps d0 and ll as to constitute two magnetiepaths for the fluxtraversing the core member 5. posed around a portion of the core member arand is connected in shunt relation to the circuit 1. The armature 13 of the member at is directly connected to the movable inem- A potential winding 12 is disbers 14 0f the interrupter 3 and is adapted tobe held in the position shown iii-the drawing, against the action'of a spring 15, when thew nding l2is e nergized. \Vindings 16 are disposed around the legs 8 and *9, and

the circuit. comprising the \vindings'16,'is

connected across a reactor 17 that is connected in series with the circuit '1. i

4 Since the magnetic patli comprising the legs Band 7 and the armature 13 is of less reluctance than the path comprisin 8 and 9, the armature 13 will be held in this position against. the action of the spring 15 so long-as suliicient potential is maintained on' the circuit '1. However, if a short the legs circuit or ground obtains on the circuit 1,

the'voltage impressed across the reactor 17 will quickly change, and a rush'of current will traverse the windings 16. The windlugs 16 are so disposed with respect to the legs Sand 9 that the magneticflux induced by the winding 12 is deflected from the path comprising the legs 6 and 7 to the path comprising the legs 8 and 9. and thusthe armaturc 13 and, consequently, the circuit interrupter 3 moved, with the assistance of the spring 15, to its open position. and the armature 13 will bridge the air gap 11 to complete the magnetic circuit through the legs 8 and 9. Since there is normally an insufficient drop of potential across the reactor 17 to 'properlyenergize the windings 16 and, since a relatively great drop of potential will obtain across the reactor 17 before an excessive current traverses the circuit, it will be understood that the windings 16 will be energized substantially in anticipation of an overload on the circuit and, consequently,since the windings 16 are not caused to oppose the flow of magnetic flux but merely to divert the -sm"fle"fibiri oile path to another, the

speedot ope'int-ioii'oftlre'device 4' is greatly increased to thus ensure effective protection 5 for the circuit 1.

Our invention is not limited to the specific structure illustrated, as it may be variously inodi fied witlibtit departing from the spirit and scope of the in VGIliglQflg-fiS set forth in -the up ended claims.

eclaim as our. invention:

1. In a circuit interrupter, the combination. with a movable contact member, of an actuatingelectromagnet therefor comprising afcorememberhaving. two magnetic paths, a shunt winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normall completing the circuit of; one 'magnetic patl i, and a controlling. winding associated withthe other path .for so; energizing the same as to shift then flux vthereto HHdi-PGIHlIt the armature to: complete; i the circuit thereof. ..2 l.n an.geleotric circuit, an electromagnet comprising, a ,magnetizable core member having tmo; magnetic paths-,iacwii-ndi ng :Eor energiziing,.the, core membeigian armature for normally completing one ma netic path and means. energized .-from. the, circuit. for caus ing the armature to quickly complete the other magnetic path.

- 3.,An, electromagnet for an electric circuit comprising a coremembe'r having two magnetic paths with; airgaps therein. means for energi'zing the core' member from the circuit, an armature for normally bridging the air gap. iIlQlflB magnetic path, and means connected to theicircuit for causing the armature to bridge the air gap in the other magnetic path when the current traversing the circuitincreases quickly.

v 4,; Anelectromagnet for an electric circuit comprisinga core member having, two-magnetic paths, with air, gaps therein, means for energizing. the core member from the circuit. ;an armature for normally bridging the air gap in: one magnetic path, and'means connectedto the circuit for causing the armature to bridge the air gap in the other mag .netic path when an overload traverses the circuit. i;

5. In all-electric. circuit. the combination with a;c i,rcuit interrupter. of an actuating electromagnet. therefor comprising a mag5- netizabl'e core having. two pairs of oppositely disposed .a rms, with an air gap therebetween. an armature disposed between the pairs of arms, a potential winding for soenergizing the core that the armature normally bridges two ofthe arms, and-a winding disposed fioaround the other arms and operatively c ninected to the circuit for causing the tiux to be-so shifted that the armature bridges the other. arms when an overload traverses the circuit.

6. In an electric circuit, the-combination with a circuit interrupter. of an actuating clcctromagnct therefor comprising a magnetizable core having'tivo pairs of pp s y disposed arms, with an air gap therehetwecn. an armature disposed between the pairs of arms, a" pot 'ential winding for so energizing the core that the armature normall bridges two of the arms, and a winding fiisposed 'aroundthe other arms and operatively connected tothe circuit for causing the flux to be so shifted that the armature bridges the otherarmsiin anticipation of an overload on the circuit.

- 7. Inanelectric circuit, the combination with a circuit interrupter, of an actuating electromagnet therefor comprising a core member having four arms so disposed us'to. constitute two magnetic paths liavingair gaps therein, an armature directly connected; to'the' circuit;interrupter, means torso ener-. gizi'ng the core member that, the armature bridges the air gap in one magnetic path, and means energized from the circuit for so deflecting. the flux through the other path that the armature bridges the air. gapin that. path, under predetermined conditions in -the circuit. I 8. In an electric circuit. the combination with a circuit interrupter, otan actuating electromagnet therefor comprising; a core memberhaving four arms so disposed as to oonstitutetwo magnetic. paths having air gaps therein, an armature directly connected to the circuit.interrupter, means toy-scenergizing the core member that the arnniture bridges the air gap. in one niagnetic path, andaneans for so; deflecting the flux through the other patlrthat, the armature bridges the air ap in thatpathin anticipation of an overloa on thecircuit. I 9-. Inan electric circuit the combination with a circuit interrupter having a movable member, of an, electromagnet comprising :a core member having two magnetic paths with air gaps therein, means for energizing the core memberfrom the circuit, an armatu're for'nornially bridging the air gapin one magnetic path, and means'energized from the circuit. for so energizing .the other magnetic patlras to cause the armature=to be movedto bridgethe airgap ofthat magnetic path when an overloadtraverses thecircuit 10. In an electric circuit, the combination with a circuit interrupter having a movable member, of an electro-inagnet comprising a core member having two magnetic paths with air gaps therein. means for; energizing the core mcmberftrom the circuit,-a'n armature for normally bridging the air gap in one magnetic, path, and means operatively connected to the circuit for so energizing the other magnetic pathos towausc theiarmature to be moved to bridge the air gap of that magnetic path when an overload traverses the circuit.

11. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a Winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally completing one magnetic path, and a winding for so directly energizing the other magnetic path as to attract the armature thereto.

12. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally completing one magnetic path, and a winding energized from the circuit for so energizing the other magnetic path as to attract the armature thereto.

13. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally completing one magnetic path, and a means energized from the circuit and responsive to quick current changes in the circuit for so energizing the other magnetic path as to attract the armature thereto.

14. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally completing one magnetic path, and a winding energized from the circuit and responsive to quick current changes in the circuit for so energizing the other magnetic path as to attract the armature thereto.

15. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally completing one magnetic path, and a means energized in anticipation of an overload in the circuit for so energizing the other magnetic path as to attract the armaature thereto.

16. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally completing one magnetic path, and a winding energized in anticipation of an overload in the circuit for so energizing the other magnetic path as to attract the armature thereto.

17. In an electric circuit, an electromagnet comprising a magnetizable core member having two magnetic paths, a winding for energizing the core member, an armature for normally co-operating with one magnetic path, and a magnetic means energized directly from the circuit upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions therein for causing movement of the armature from said path into operative relation to the other ath. p In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 3rd day of Oct,

CHARLES LE G. FORTESCUE. JOHN B. MACNEILL. 

